Join Early Retirement Today
Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Anyone Else Reading Heretical Religious Writings
Old 04-08-2006, 11:34 PM   #1
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 2,375
Anyone Else Reading Heretical Religious Writings

I'm reading Elaine Pagels' The Gnostics Gospels and Beyond Belief

Its a real relevation (so to speak) I find the idea that there were competing versions of Christianity in the early days - that were supressed by the Orthodox Church - enthralling and there were different versions of what Christ, the Marys and the apostles were about and now this week there is the gnostic writings on Judas that put him in a positive light.....
Danny is offline   Reply With Quote
Join the #1 Early Retirement and Financial Independence Forum Today - It's Totally Free!

Are you planning to be financially independent as early as possible so you can live life on your own terms? Discuss successful investing strategies, asset allocation models, tax strategies and other related topics in our online forum community. Our members range from young folks just starting their journey to financial independence, military retirees and even multimillionaires. No matter where you fit in you'll find that Early-Retirement.org is a great community to join. Best of all it's totally FREE!

You are currently viewing our boards as a guest so you have limited access to our community. Please take the time to register and you will gain a lot of great new features including; the ability to participate in discussions, network with our members, see fewer ads, upload photographs, create a retirement blog, send private messages and so much, much more!

Re: Anyone Else Reading Heretical Religious Writings
Old 04-09-2006, 12:13 AM   #2
Recycles dryer sheets
 
Join Date: Mar 2004
Posts: 228
Re: Anyone Else Reading Heretical Religious Writings

There was a pretty good documentary on the Learning Channel a couple weeks ago that was about how the chapters of the bible were selected. At various times over the millenia, commiittees have been formed to decide what goes in/what stays out of the holy text.

Another issue is translation. When you translate any text, you are essentially rewriting it. The Bible in English is a whole 'nother book from the Bible in Hebrew, Greek, Aramaic, and the other ancient languages. Translators had to puzzle out the meanings and ambiguities of the original texts, and sometimes they got it wrong.

I remember as a pious child I was SHOCKED when a Catholic friend of mine showed me a Bible with the Apocrypha in it. These were disputed texts, some of which told the story of Jesus as a little boy. In one story he creates a bird out of dirt and brings it to life. In another he gets pissed off at a playmate and kills him with a touch. It was very disturbing to me.
LRS is offline   Reply With Quote
Re: Anyone Else Reading Heretical Religious Writings
Old 04-09-2006, 12:22 AM   #3
Recycles dryer sheets
 
Join Date: Apr 2006
Posts: 199
Re: Anyone Else Reading Heretical Religious Writings

yeah, and the book of enoch has some wild stuff in it. think the coptic christians in ethiopia still use this book
newyorklady is offline   Reply With Quote
Re: Anyone Else Reading Heretical Religious Writings
Old 04-09-2006, 12:30 AM   #4
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Mesa
Posts: 3,588
Re: Anyone Else Reading Heretical Religious Writings

Quote:
Originally Posted by DanTien
I'm reading Elaine Pagels' The Gnostics Gospels and Beyond Belief

Its a real relevation (so to speak) I find the idea that there were competing versions of Christianity in the early days - that were supressed by the Orthodox Church - enthralling and there were different versions of what Christ, the Marys and the apostles were about and now this week there is the gnostic writings on Judas that put him in a positive light.....
If you read the Old Testament vs the New Testament you find enough contradictions to be enthralling. *Read the Apocrypha and study some archaeology and you really begin to realize how much Christianity evolved and changed in the first several hundred years after Christ. *The Dark Ages brought about even more evolution.

Read about Mormonism and other modern religions to really enthrall you.

sgeeeee is offline   Reply With Quote
Re: Anyone Else Reading Heretical Religious Writings
Old 04-09-2006, 07:07 AM   #5
Full time employment: Posting here.
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 569
Re: Anyone Else Reading Heretical Religious Writings

Beowulf and Gudrun is showing at certain Theatres, I was really into Old English Religions as a kid.

I find the History of The Knights Templar fascinating so I am buying Holy Blood, Holy Grail

Stonehenge is a revelation and when we visit some of the ruined Abbeys in the most isolated areas, one wonders about the people who felt so strongly they could endure that life style??

The Yorkshire Moors with the mist hanging over them, early in the morning, surreal.
Maximillion is offline   Reply With Quote
Re: Anyone Else Reading Heretical Religious Writings
Old 04-09-2006, 11:21 AM   #6
Moderator Emeritus
Nords's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Oahu
Posts: 26,855
Re: Anyone Else Reading Heretical Religious Writings

Quote:
Originally Posted by Tawny Dangle
Translators had to puzzle out the meanings and ambiguities of the original texts, and sometimes they got it wrong.
Gosh, it's hard to believe that the church (whatever church) would succumb to the temptation to politicize their creeds.

Although it's certainly ironic. Or is that satirical?
__________________
*

Co-author (with my daughter) of “Raising Your Money-Savvy Family For Next Generation Financial Independence.”
Author of the book written on E-R.org: "The Military Guide to Financial Independence and Retirement."

I don't spend much time here— please send a PM.
Nords is offline   Reply With Quote
Re: Anyone Else Reading Heretical Religious Writings
Old 04-09-2006, 02:57 PM   #7
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
 
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 4,005
Re: Anyone Else Reading Heretical Religious Writings

I got interested in the history of the bible a few months back. I read this book (among others):

The Bible: A Very Short Introduction, by John Riches. Oxford University Press. ISBN: 0192853430

Got 4.5 stars on Amazon reviews.

Pretty good overview of how the bible evolved from oral tradition to written texts and then certain texts were chosen to be included in the canonical teaching of the Church. Fairly interesting reading. Takes a critical, non-religious viewpoint (religious doctrine doesn't get in the way of explaining history).







justin is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Bedtime Reading (Research Info) crazy connie FIRE and Money 1 08-11-2006 10:04 PM
heretical ideas Lazy Jack FIRE and Money 43 04-09-2006 11:53 AM
Recommendation Reading For Investing and Wealth Building Enuff2Eat FIRE and Money 30 11-16-2005 09:28 PM
Tired of reading your private messages! dory36 Forum Admin 0 10-20-2005 02:24 PM
I Might Be Reading These Forums Too Much. . . BigMoneyJim Other topics 4 03-19-2004 08:58 AM

» Quick Links

 
All times are GMT -6. The time now is 08:57 PM.
 
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.